CCM's Illustrious Piano Faculty Artists Celebrate Warm Music From Cold Countries

Faculty performers receive the spotlight at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) during the 11th annual

Pianopalooza

concert on

Sunday, Nov. 15

. This year’s program features CCM’s esteemed piano faculty artists performing a collection of fiery music from Russia and elsewhere.

In the spirit of the approaching winter season, this installment of Pianopalooza celebrates warm music from cold countries, including Chopin’s

Winter Wind Étude

, Edvarg Grieg’s I

n the Hall of the Mountain King

and “Waltz of the Flowers” from the classic holiday favorite, Tchaikovsky’s

The Nutcracker Suite

.

The concert’s grand finale features a stunning 12-hand piano arrangement of “Mars” from Gustav Holst’s

The Planets

.

“During the chilliest winters, these composers have warmed our hearts and fired our imaginations,” explains CCM Piano Department Chair

Michael Chertock

. “This music celebrates the season, defies the cold, longs for spring and summer, and sometimes simply shivers.”

In addition to Chertock, who also serves as the concert’s master of ceremonies, Pianopalooza XI includes performances by faculty members

Dror Biran

,

Caroline Hong

,

Hitomi Koyama

,

Kate Lee

,

Donna Loewy

,

Sandra Rivers

,

James Tocco

and

Andrew Villemez

.

CCM’s world-class pianists also welcome special guest

Daniel Weeks

to the stage for this concert. A critically acclaimed tenor, Weeks joined CCM’s faculty as Associate Professor of Voice this fall.

Chertock promises that the concert will be an intimate and moving affair. “CCM’s Werner Recital Hall harbors two of the most beautiful pianos in the entire state of Ohio,” Chertock observes. “It’s the perfect acoustical space to experience this warm music.”

The Nov. 15 concert is the first of two Pianopaloozas scheduled for CCM’s 2015-16 performance season. Next semester, CCM’s extraordinary young artists will take the spotlight for the Pianopalooza: Student Showcase on Sunday, April 3.

Performance Time

7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15

Location

Robert J. Werner Recital Hall, CCM Village

University of Cincinnati

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets to “Pianopalooza: Warm Music from Cold Countries” are $15 general admission, $10 for non-UC students and FREE for UC students with a valid ID.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at

ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/concerts/piano

.

Parking and Directions

Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit 

uc.edu/parking

 for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit 

uc.edu/visitors

. Additional parking is available off-campus at the new U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit

ccm.uc.edu/about/directions

.

____

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Community Partner: ArtsWave

CCM is proud to be an All-Steinway School